SOUNDBITES — “I’d like to make it a rule: No yelling at the president until you show me a letter you have written” to your House member and two senators. —Rep. Barney Frank on gay rights complainers who only lash out at the president.
“Call your representatives. Meet with them. Pressure them.” —”Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on civil rights, who plans on introducing bill to repeal DOMA
Geoff M
Didn’t Barney just flip his position on gay rights…and his attitude toward the President after being summoned to the White House? I’m confused.
galefan2004
I’ve been writing my letters to my state legislators lately. Ohio is trying to get the housing and employment non-discrimination act passed which will end discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing and employment. I’ve written a letter to my congressman to back DADT repeal. Personally, I think the fact that I worked diligently to get my congressman elected and shared my views with him to be enough. If he decides to go anti-gay in this term, he will most likely not get my support in the next term. However, I’m not going to vote simply on gay issues. There are a lot of other issues I care about. My problem with Obama has very little to do with gay issues and a lot more to do with his inaction on every single promise he made (ending the Iraq war, shutting down Guatanamo, providing health care, improving education, improving quality of life for those that are less fortunate). He hasn’t done any of that, so until he does I’ll gladly keep him foot on his neck.
Cam
Oh Yes, because they are completely unaware that DOMA is an issue. Just a bunch of poor Congressfolks who know nothing and can’t read.
Well I called my legislatures, got the 22 year old staff assistant working the phones who brushed off the comment, then got a bit more polite when I asked if they were keeping a tally on this issue, and if they weren’t then could they tell me why not. Then e-mailed the same offices. What I’m wondering is where are the gay organizations on this? When Congress was thinking of putting an exicse tax on cigareets around 1999, all of the cigarette companies got together and phone banked for months. Congressional phone lines were tied up all day, every day, and the legislation failed at that time. They were fighting a losing war but still managed to win that battl with pressure like that. Our organizations need to use their lists, call their members, get them to contact Congress and tie up their phone lines just like Phillip Morris, Brown and Williams and all the other companies did back then.
Fitz
There is some validity.. writing is important. And I mean writing.. not emailing. I have written to Pelosi and Boxer, and Fienstien, and of course to Barak “Cuz God is in the Mix” Obama.
Thom Freeheart
What an arrogant prick.
Kettle
@Thom Freeheart: *holds up mirror*
Keith
I would love to, but alas, I live in DC so I have no representation in Congress.
RM
Glad to know I have Barney’s blessing to yell at Obama now.
david
Some of us have legislators who already support lgbt community. Do I have to write to them to support before yelling at the president?
Michael
You know what? He’s right. If you don’t know who your representative and senators are, find out here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt
They may not agree with you or do what you want in the end, but they do keep track of who calls and what they say. Do it today. Then get back to yelling at the president!
prissysissy
@Geoff M – your point being .. ?
prissysissy
@Kettle (#6) – second that.
Geoff M
@prissysissy: Just that this guy honestly confuses me. I mean, I want…need ….a true gay allie in Congress, but Barney’s view and championship of gay rights seems totally for sale….or maybe hostage? I’m not being a smartass, I just don’t get him.
osocubano
I have two letters for the President and for you, Barney:
F U
A C
The funny thing about Barney’s flip flop statement, was that he admitted he expressed his outrage to the Smelt DOMA brief before he actually read it. Doesn’t bode well for any letters i would send him.
InExile
@david: Yes, you do. I have 2 Senators that claim to support gay equality but never introduce any legislation, so I write them over and over. Same story with my Congressman, supports equality but never introduces legislation.
The President promises action on DOMA, DADT, ENDA, Hate Crimes, and Civil Unions with federal benefits but he needs congress to draft the legislation, he cannot do it alone.
They ALL need letters, the President included and to be greeted with angry mobs yelling “no more $$$ and no more votes” until we have equality! Enough is enough.
myrios123
I just sent my letter… but I don’t yell. I just won’t vote for him again if things don’t change quick.
Hannah
As soon as I heard about the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (to repeal DADT), I emailed my Democratic representative. Then I checked out his background and he helped passed DADT and DOMA. Fucking Tennessee Dixiecrat.
I’ve continued to email him and my senators.
So glad I have permission to be pissed at Obama now.
Aaron
What an arrogant, presumptuous prick Barney Frank has become this past couple of weeks.
Such a sell out. Literally!
Fitz
@Kettle: I like your name.
Brian Miller
Hey Barney:
I’d like to make it a rule: No more queer votes or campaign contributions for ANY Democrats until they show me sponsored or co-sponsored legislation to repeal DOMA and DADT.
YOU work for US. Not vice versa.
You arrogant drip.
TikiHead
Kettle = Tank?
hyhybt
@Michael: My “representative” reintroduces the Federal Marriage Prevention Amendment every year. Not much point in trying to talk to him.
SM
If you are constantly ticked at Obama and think he is a lying phoney, please make a copy of his Inauguration speech. Highlight the part where it was so obvious he was talking about YOU…and then please feel like a jerk when you are wrong about him.
If you all want to choose a better history…then CHOOSE IT. Don’t expect everyone else to do all the work while you become more and more bitter. Reach for the hope and change you want.
One thing is for sure…the LGBT civil rights movement is not on its way into history like the others…Don’t think MLK ran around calling someone and “arrogant drip”…but its your history to write.
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation. But in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor — who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.” Barack Hussein Obama, January 20, 2009
InExile
@SM: Speeches are speeches and talk is cheap. It is time to see some action other than releasing DOMA briefs villifying gay couples. Politicians ALWAYS make speeches promising this or that, but it does not mean they have any intention of keeping those promises.
Please quit claiming you have some window into this Presidents soul and know what he is thinking and planning. The jury is still out on where this man actually stands on everything.
osocubano
@SM:
How long will it take you to realize you’re wasting your time?
Mark
Jerry Nadler better, by god, be doing the right thing. He is the Congressman for the Manhattan district which includes Chelsea, my neighborhood. He considers his reelection automatic every two years. In eight years, I have never been asked to vote for him: no mailings, no phone calls, no one on the street. In fact, I’ve never even seen a campaign poster. Must be nice to be so complacent and comfortable, and be able to take your constituents for granted, that you don’t even have to campaign. So no lectures, Jer. Get off your ass and do something.
Cam
@SM: you said “If you are constantly ticked at Obama and think he is a lying phoney, please make a copy of his Inauguration speech. Highlight the part where it was so obvious he was talking about YOU…and then please feel like a jerk when you are wrong about him. ”
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It’s funny, you act as though Obama said NOTHING during the campaign, kept his mouth shut and then just gave a speech. I guess you missed the campaign promises to the gay community. But then again, since they don’t support your opinion, maybe you didn’t miss them, maybe you just pretended not to know about them.